Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe have both come a long way since the pair of them were tearing up the turf on the Hackney Marshes as kids.

The East London lads were both picked up by West Ham as teenagers, broke in to the first team at the Old Upton Park and became leading lights of the so-called England Golden Generation.

Cole spent his career carving out chances for the Three Lions’ most deadly finishers but he is convinced Defoe was the most lethal of the lot.

Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler, Wayne Rooney. Former Chelsea star Cole has an impressive list to pick from but it’s the pint-sized poacher from Essex he rates as the best natural born finisher and he’s convinced he’ll be on target for Rangers.

Cole said: “I have known Jermain since we were 13 years old and as a goalscorer he’s the best finisher of our generation.

“He is the best English finisher I played with.

“It’s not by a million miles he’s ahead of the likes of the other lads, but I’d put him there.

“He just knows where the goal is and that’s one of the reasons he’ll keep playing for years yet because it’s natural to him.